Daily Briefs

Letter from Chief Judge Robert J. Colombo, Jr. regarding Proposal 1

To the Third Judicial Circuit community:

As you know, Proposal 1 passed on November 6, 2018. This ballot proposal legalized possession and use of marijuana by individuals 21 years and older.

Please understand that this new state law does not change policies prohibiting the use or possession of marijuana on any property leased or managed by or on the behalf of the Third Judicial Circuit. Therefore, Third Judicial Circuit officials, staff, contractors, or court users are prohibited from bringing marijuana onto any Third Judicial Circuit property or during off-campus Third Judicial Circuit business or events.

Marijuana use remains illegal and fully criminalized according to federal law, and the Third Judicial Circuit Court is subject to the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. Employees, officials, contractors, and court users who violate Court policy prohibiting the use or possession of illegal drugs on Court facilities will continue to be subject to legal and disciplinary action.

— Hon. Robert J. Colombo, Jr.

Police: 1970s slaying investigation led to arrest, release

BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) — Authorities say they arrested a man in April related to the investigation into the death of a Michigan girl who went missing 45 years ago and was later found slain.

The Bay City Times reports police confirmed the arrest Wednesday but said the 62-year-old was later released without facing charges.

Jan Marie Rohrer disappeared Nov. 26, 1973, somewhere between her Bay City home and her school three blocks away. Nearly a year later, her remains were found in a ditch on the Crow Island Game Area in Saginaw County’s Zilwaukee Township.

State police Special 1st Lt. David Kaiser says investigators received new information a few months ago, but he declined to elaborate. He says police are working with Bay County prosecutors to “see if we can move the case forward.”

Crash victim’s love for dogs factors into judge’s sentence

HOLLAND, Mich. (AP) — A woman who was blamed for a fatal crash in western Michigan must perform community service in honor of the victim’s love of dogs.

The Holland Sentinel reports 56-year-old Rhonda Vandermyde was sentenced Wednesday to probation and 300 hours of service at the Humane Society. Relatives told a judge that Ruth Bull’s favorite cause after family was her three Chihuahuas: Zoe, Zeke and Jorge.

Vandermyde pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor for a July crash that killed 60-year-old Bull.

Vandermyde, a driver for VanEerden Trucking, told police that she was adjusting the air conditioning and didn’t see vehicles stopping for a traffic signal in Port Sheldon Township. She struck a van and a Jeep driven by Bull.Vandermyde says she’s “sorry for what everybody is going through.”